Stoffel Vandoorne, the man expected to be McLaren’s next race driver, had his first ever F1 test with the team in Barcelona today.

McLaren was a designated Pirelli test team today, so Vandoorne’s focus was on running the prototype 2015 hard tyres. However he did sneak in a run on 2014 mediums late in the day, on which he sent the ninth best time of the session.

McLaren said that that the Belgian GP2 driver impressed with his “his maturity, feedback and pace.” He ran 136 laps, or double the 300kms required to earn a superlicence.

“This has been a fantastic day for me – my first experience in a Formula 1 car, and a really great opportunity to get plenty of laps under my belt,” he said.

“I want to say a big thank you to the team – everyone has been incredibly helpful and positive. It’s also great to have been able to contribute to the test programme. 136 laps today was a fantastic achievement, and it’s great that it’s earned me the right to be granted a Formula 1 Superlicence.”